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Congressman becomes first Democrat to declare 2020 presidential run

UNITED STATES - APRIL 28: Rep. John Delaney, D-Md., speaks during news conference in Capitol Visitor Center on the fiduciary rule which is meant to help Americans save for retirement, April 28, 2016. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., appears at ...
left (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images)

U.S. Representative John Delaney became the first Democrat to formally enter the 2020 presidential campaign to challenge Republican President Donald Trump - more than 1,100 days before the election.

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“The current administration is making us less prosperous and less secure, the healthcare debacle being the most recent example of their brand of destructive partisanship,” Delaney said in a statement announcing his candidacy.

Delaney represents a Maryland district that includes some Washington suburbs.

Traditionally, candidates begin formally announcing their intentions to run for president after the midterm elections, which take place in the middle of the incumbent president's term. The next midterm election will be in November 2018.

Trump formally filed to run for re-election the day after he took office in January.